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In “The Year of Magical Thinking,” Joan Didion eloquently describes how grief distorts thinking and creates thoughts that defy logic. She describes this process as “magical thinking.” I think some people approach moving with magical thinking as well. In psychology, magical thinking refers to the belief that one’s thoughts can make things happen, or that […]

In sailing, the technique used to move against the wind is called tacking. In common use, tacking is the concept of making progress by zigzagging rather than moving forward directly. For adult children helping their parents transition from one home to another, tacking can be a useful concept.

Two years ago, a friend died suddenly after a horrendously short battle with cancer. I guess we all have our own way of remembering and honoring people we’ve lost. I remember Peg through “Peg miles”. I am a walker. For 25 years, I’ve walked for exercise and enjoyment. I don headphones, select my favorite exercise […]

For most of us, communication is like breathing; we do it naturally, without thinking. But for people with aphasia, communication can be an insurmountable challenge. Yet, if you listen, if you really listen, you would be amazed at how clear a message can be. Some time ago, we were moving residents on an assisted living […]

Sometimes it starts with a phone call at 2 AM. “Your mom had a stroke.” Sometimes there is simply a gradual worsening of chronic conditions, and over time the home that worked so well for so many years is too burdensome. In either case, your life is turned upside down. There are hundreds of decisions […]

When it comes to resealable plastic bags, I have always been Ziploc challenged. To be more exact, I am incapable of getting the little ridge into the little groove and having it stay closed. So when bags that actually zippered closed came out, I was thrilled. Finally, a bag for me! Then I realized they were […]

Several years ago, my husband and I moved from our three-story, six-bedroom home to a one-story Mission bungalow. It’s charming. It’s in a location we love. It’s half the upkeep and half the cost of our former home. I saw our new house as perfect. My husband saw it only as “less.” Then I stumbled […]

The term “geriatric fiblet” was coined at the 2000 World Alzheimer’s Congress as “necessary white lies to redirect loved ones or discourage them from detrimental behavior.” I have found the concept useful in analyzing my own actions as a Senior Move Manager. The Senior Move Management industry is guided by a code of ethics that defines […]

Sometimes a small change in routine can make a big difference. After long discussion, my mother-in-law started using a weekly pill organizer. This simple little box, and some common sense questions to her physician, made all the difference in the world. My mother-in-law (we called her Bubbie) took twelve different prescription medications, three types of eye drops, […]

“Mrs. Smith, these frozen chicken breasts are from 2006. That’s pretty old. Do you want us to throw them out?” “No, I sauté them with a little butter, salt and pepper and they taste just fine.” “But they must be bad for you.” “I’m 92, they can’t be that bad.” I think about this conversation each […]